Three Truths Contrary to God’s Truth (Part 2)

In our continuing series on “Three Truths Contrary to God’s Truth,” we examine Truth #2 The Pull of Society is Pulling Us Away from God’s Truth.

It was February, 1994. The event was the Winter Olympics. The place was Lillehammer, Norway. I had decided to do a human- interest story on downtown Lillehammer and the variety of people who were enjoying the sites and sounds of the tiny Olympic town. I noticed a group of students chanting a “Jesus” cheer. Because I had the power, I put them into my report. It was one small way I could influence the culture for Christ.

Make no mistake about it. Media, movies and television programs impact culture, and in turn, put pressure on our churches to dilute the Gospel. According to the National Cultural Values Survey, “Heavy television viewers (four hours or more per evening) are less committed to character virtues like honesty and charity, and more permissive about sex, abortion and homosexuality. Light television viewers (one hour or less per evening) are more likely to attend religious services and live their lives by God’s principles.”

As one wise Bible teacher taught me, “Our eyes are adjusting to the darkness.”

But we have to remember God’s word is sovereign. While we must read it in context, it’s core truths do not change with the culture. Hebrews 13:8 says, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.”

Jesus ran into this issue of cultural influences on faith when engaging with the Pharisees and teachers of the Law. The religious leaders asked Jesus why he broke the tradition of the elders when he and his disciples did not wash their hands before they ate. Jesus turned it around on them saying, “And why do you break the command of God for the sake of your tradition?” (Matthew 15:1-3)  In other words, their cultural mores were influencing God’s truth.

It seems the exhortation to remain steadfast in faith was a running theme throughout the Bible. In an effort to keep his readers focused on God rather than what was around them environmentally, James said, “Don’t be deceived, my dear brothers. Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows” (James 1:16-17).

James was saying we must take our eyes off the culture and refocus on God because culture changes and God does not.

So how do we avoid a shifting, slippery backslide into a morality that falls short of the standard set in the Bible? We must remain entrenched in the infallible Word of God and pray that God’s truth will enable us to stand firm, even as the Holy ground continues to erode below us.

In a “Focus on the Family” on-line article by Del Tackett entitled “Why is a Christian Worldview Important?” he says, “By diligently learning, applying and trusting God’s truths in every area of our lives, we can begin to develop a deep comprehensive faith that will stand against the unrelenting tide of our culture’s non-biblical ideas. If we capture and embrace more of God’s worldview and trust it with unwavering faith, then we begin to make the right decision and form the appropriate responses to question on abortion, same-sex marriage, cloning, stem-cell research and even media choices. Because, in the end, it is our decisions and action that reveal what we really believe.”

Think about your own life and the television you watch. I know for myself I now seem to accept what seemed detestable ten years ago. Culture is powerful, but through a steadfast faith, the power of God trumps culture. We can avoid the damage the bombardment of cultural messages have on our minds by keeping our minds on God’s truths.

In his final words to fellow Christians who were being persecuted in the church, the Apostle Peter exhorted them to stand strong in their faith and to not be influenced by culture, words still true for us today.

“Therefore, dear friends, since you already know this, be on your guard so you may not be carried away by the error of lawless men and fall from your secure position. But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever” (2 Peter 3:17-18).

In these times of a crumbling morality, we have a choice. Do we allow culture to influence our worldview? Or do we check the box of the immovable plumb line of the Bible to dictate behavior? By placing our lives in the sovereign hands of God, we will not be shaken or moved by culture. We will grow in spiritual maturity and will have the strength it takes to stand up against the societal pressure to lower our life standard to a level that falls far short of the glory of God.

On Saturday, we will conclude our series with Part 3.